Psychosexual

Development
Theory of Sigmund Freud
What is psychosexual
development?
Freud believed that adult
personality problems were
the result of early
experiences in life.
He believed that we go
through five stages of
psychosexual development
and that at each stage of
development we
experience pleasure in one
part of the body than in
others.
What are erogenous zones?
Erogenous zones
are parts of the
body that have
especially strong
pleasure-giving
qualities at
particular stages of
development.
What is psychosexual
development?
Freud thought that
our adult personality
is determined by the
way we resolve
conflicts between
these early sources
of pleasurethe
mouth, the anus and
the genitalsand
the demands of
reality.
What is fixation?
Fixation is the
psychoanalytic
defense
mechanism that
occurs when the
individual remains
locked in an
earlier
developmental
stage because
needs are under-
or over-gratified
Examples of fixation
Weaning a child too
early or until too late
Being too strict in toilet
training the child
Punishing the child for
masturbation
Smothering the child
with too much
attention


Stages of
Psychosexual Development
I. Oral Stage
It occurs during the
first 18 months of life
when the infants
pleasure centers on
the mouth.
Chewing, sucking
and biting are chief
sources of pleasure
and these actions
reduces tension in
the infant.
Fixations at oral stage:
Fixations at oral stage:
II. Anal Stage
It is the second stage
of oral development
that occurs between 1
until 3 years of age,
in which the childs
greatest pleasure
involves the anus or
the eliminative
functions associated
with it.
II. Anal Stage
In Freuds view, the
exercise of anal
muscles reduces
tension.
II. Anal Stage
Through toilet
training, the
child comes in
contact with the
rules of society.
Fixations at anal stage:
Fixations at anal stage:
III. Phallic Stage
It occurs between the
ages of 3-6.
The word phallic comes
the Latin word phallus,
which means penis.
During this stage,
pleasure focuses on the
genitals as the child
discovers that self-
stimulation is enjoyable.
Importance of Phallic Stage
In Freuds view, the
phallic stage has a
special importance in
personality
development because
this period triggers
the Oedipus
Complex.
What is the Oedipus Complex?
The Oedipus
Complex is the
young childs
development of an
intense desire to
replace the parent
of the same sex
and enjoy the
affection of the
opposite-sex
parent.
Resolving the Oedipus Complex
At about 5-6 years of age,
children recognize that their
same-sex parent might
punish them for their
incestuous wishes.
To reduce the conflict, the
child identifies with the same-
sex parent, striving to be like
him/her.
If the conflict is not resolved,
the individual may become
fixated at the phallic stage.
Fixation at Phallic Stage
Fixation at Phallic Stage
IV. Latency Stage
It occurs at
approximately
between 6 years of
age until puberty.
At this stage, the
child represses all
interest in
sexuality and
develops social and
intellectual skills.
IV. Latency Stage
The pursuit of social
and academic
activities channels
much of the childs
energy into
emotionally safe
areas and aids the
child in forgetting
the highly stressful
conflicts of the
phallic stage
V. Genital Stage
The final stage of
psychosexual
development occurs
from puberty onwards.
It is the time of sexual
reawakening, but the
source of sexual
pleasure now becomes
someone outside the
family.
V. Genital Stage
Freud believed that
unresolved conflicts
with parents re-
emerged during
adolescence.
Once resolved, Freud
believed that the
individual capable of
developing a mature
love relationship and
functioning
independently as an
adult.
V. Genital Stage
Improper transitioning
into the Genital stage
may result in failure to
form heterosexual
relationships in the
future.